Horizon League Tournament Preview: Detroit Titans vs. Valparaiso Crusaders

The fans at Athletics-Recreation Center will be treated to a game between the Detroit Titans and the Valparaiso Crusaders when they take their seats on Tuesday.

Oddsmakers currently have the Crusaders listed as 2-point favorites versus the Titans, while the game's total is sitting at 136½.

In their last action, Detroit was a 63-58 winner on the road against Cleveland State. They covered the 1-point spread as underdogs.

Valparaiso won its last outing, a 65-46 result against Butler on March 3. They covered in that game as a 2-point underdog.

Detroit: Team record: 21-13 SU, 12-19 ATS Current streak: won 4 straight games.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 5 games when playing on the road against Valparaiso is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road is 8-16-1 ATS in its last 25 games on the road is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games on the road

When playing on Tuesday are 2-8 After playing Cleveland State are 6-4 After a win are 8-2

Valparaiso: Team record: 22-10 SU, 14-14-1 ATS Current streak: won 3 straight games.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit The total has gone OVER in 7 of last 8 games when playing Detroit

When playing on Tuesday are 4-6 After playing Butler are 2-8 After a win are 7-3

Horizon League Tournament Preview: Detroit Titans vs. Valparaiso Crusaders

Horizon League Tournament Preview: Butler Bulldogs vs. Wisc-Milwaukee Panthers

The Butler Bulldogs and the Wisc-Milwaukee Panthers will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Athletics-Recreation Center.

Oddsmakers currently have the Bulldogs listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Panthers, while the game's total is sitting at 120.

Butler was a 70-52 winner in their most recent outing at home against Wright State. They covered the 10-point spread as favorites.

Wisc-Milwaukee was a 68-55 winner in their most recent outing at home against Illinois-Chicago. They covered the 12.5-point spread as favorites.

Butler: Team record: 19-13 SU, 10-17-2 ATS

When playing on Friday are 8-2 After playing Wright State are 7-3 After a win are 6-4

Wisc-Milwaukee: Team record: 20-12 SU, 14-12-2 ATS Current streak: won 5 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 6 games when playing Butler The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games is 7-1-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Butler

When playing on Friday are 5-5 After playing Illinois-Chicago are 6-4 After a win are 6-4

Horizon League Tournament Preview: Butler Bulldogs vs. Wisc-Milwaukee Panthers

HORIZON LEAGUE CBB CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT PREVIEW 2012

The Horizon League Men's College Basketball Tournament is set and will begin on Tuesday February 28. Valparaiso finished with a 21-10 overall record and a 14-4 record in the Conference to finish 1st in the regular season. Cleveland State earned the 2nd seed and a bye into the semi-finals. The Horizon League tournament is a little different from other tournaments as the Top 2 seeds advance automatically into the semi-finals.

Detroit, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Butler all tied for 3rd with 11-7 conference records with Detroit getting the #3 seed due to a 3-1 record against Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Butler. Wisconsin-Milwaukee will grab the #4 seed and Butler sits in the #5 seed which is their worst seeding since 2005.

Youngstown State and Wisconsin Green Bay finished at 10-8 in the conference and will be seeded #6 and #7 respectively and will meet in the 1st round on Tuesday. This is the first time in the 33 year history of the Horizon Conference that seven teams have finished with 10 wins or more in conference play.

Here is a view of the upcoming tournament schedule:

2012 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship: First Round - Tuesday, Feb. 28 (campus sites) Game 1: (10) Loyola at (3) Detroit, 7 p.m. ET Game 2: (7) Green Bay at (6) Youngstown State, 7:05 p.m. ET Game 3: (9) UIC at (4) Milwaukee, 8 p.m. ET Game 4: (8) Wright State at (5) Butler, 7 p.m. ET

Second Round - Friday, March 2 (Valparaiso) Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m. ET (Horizon League Network | ESPN3) Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 8:30 p.m. ET (Horizon League Network | ESPN3)

Semifinals - Saturday, March 3 (Valparaiso) Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. (2) Cleveland State, 6 p.m. ET (ESPNU - tape delayed at 10:30 p.m. ET; live on ESPN3) Game 8: Game 6 winner at (1) Valparaiso, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Championship - Tuesday, March 6 (highest remaining seed) Game 9: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

Let's take a look at the Rocketman Power Ratings for the Horizon League. My ratings differ from the seedings so we'll look to take advantage of some soft lines here.

1. Cleveland State 78.32
2. Butler 77.45
3. Valparaiso 75.93
4. Detroit 75.53
5. Youngstown State 74.52
6. Wisconsin Milwaukee 74
7. Wisconsin Green Bay 73.64
8. Wright State 69.49
9. Loyola Chicago 67.65
10. Illinois Chicago 63.41

I have felt like Cleveland State was the Top team in the Horizon League all year and they finished on Top in my ratings. Butler has had an off year compared to what they normally do but this is still a very dangerous team come tournament time. Valparaiso should make some noise especially with them playing on their home court and having to only win 2 games at home to advance to the Big Dance.

ROCKETMAN HORIZON WINNER: CLEVELAND STATE

ROCKETMAN SLEEPER: BUTLER

ROCKETMAN LONG SHOT: DETROIT

The Rocketman is now 26-16 62% his last 42 College Basketball releases! Rocketman has cashed an amazing 60% the past 4 YEARS with all his College Basketball picks and that includes two documented #1 CBB Titles the past 4 years alone! Make sure you join the Rocketman for all his March Madness selections! Rocketman cashed a very nice 90% two years ago in March Madness!

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HORIZON LEAGUE CBB CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT PREVIEW 2012

The Butler Bulldogs and the Wisc-Milwaukee Panthers will both be trying to pick up a win on Tuesday when they battle at U.S. Cellular Arena.

Oddsmakers currently have the Bulldogs listed as 3-point favorites versus the Panthers, while the game's total is sitting at 134.

Butler was a 76-68 winner in their most recent outing against Cleveland State. They covered the 4?point spread as favorites.

Wisc-Milwaukee won its last outing, a 70-63 result against Valparaiso on March 5. They covered in that game as a 1.5-point favorite.

Butler: Team record: 22-9 SU, 14-13-1 ATS Current streak: won 8 straight games.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games on the road is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games on the road is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Wisc-Milwaukee

When playing on Tuesday are 6-4 After playing Cleveland State are 9-1 After a win are 8-2

Wisc-Milwaukee: Team record: 19-12 SU, 15-9 ATS Current streak: won 3 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Butler

When playing on Tuesday are 6-4 After playing Valparaiso are 2-8 After a win are 8-2

 

 

Horizon League Championship Preview: Butler Bulldogs vs. Wisc-Milwaukee Panthers